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2011 and beyond.

Welcome to 2012. I have decided that last year was the year of overcoming challenges. This year is going to be the year of bettering myself based on what I learned last year.

A quick look at 2011…

January: I started working with a trainer at my gym. I set goals of 300lbs on the deadlift and squat.March: I herniated my L5 S1 disc. I have been in physical therapy for that bad boy ever since.August: I started this blog! Because the injury was caused while lifting a lot of weight and continuing to lift a lot of weight seemed like bad idea, I started running. The goals I had set for myself were no longer ones that I could safely go after, so I set a new goal: run a 5k.September: I had a gallstone attack…October: …which lead to my gallbladder removal.November: Awkward Creature began. I continued to try to heal up from surgery. I turned 30 and registered for that 5k. I also talked about some important things not related to running and goals here and here.December: I didn’t update much with the whirlwind of work and holidays, but I continued to progress with running and goals.

End of Year Totals:
Longest run: 2.62 on 12/22
Fastest run: 14:20 on 11/10
Total miles (once I started tracking): 86.22
Heaviest weight: 105lb deadlift 03/28 – disc day
Number of creatures: 4

So what is 2012 going to hold? Well, I don’t like resolutions very much. Resolutions seem so easily broken and cliche. I have found that I really like goals. So here is my new, improved, and updated list of goals for 2012 (if you care to check in on past goals/updates, go here).

Goal: Run a 5k! And then run in at least the Cap City and Nationwide races as well.Status: As of today, I am running below a 15/min mile and up to 28min straight. That equals out to about 2 miles of running steady. That is so far ahead of where I started, I feel ridiculous. Almost to that 5k! I’m considering the quarter marathon for Cap City and the half for the Columbus Marathon. If training allows! Ha!

Goal: Strength train 3x a week.Status: My physical therapist and I decided that I could hit the gym a bit more aggressively as long as I checked in every other week. We also decided that I am pretty much retired from the barbell. The idea of 105 lbs resting on my shoulders for a squat and compressing my back where it was injured is just an awful idea to me. So I’m doing squats and deadlifts with dumbbells and various other lifting. Just no barbell.

Goal: Regularly donate to charity and start volunteering.Status: I gave little bits of money here and there during 2011 to places like NPR and Planned Parenthood. My end-of-the-year giving went to the Polaris Project and Water.org. (I actually joined up for TEAM Water.org as a way of combining running and charity in a commitment to match race entry fees with donations.) It wasn’t a lot of money to any one place, believe me, but I figure a little is better than nothing. I just want to do that little bit more regularly. I am also looking to get involved with Habitat for Humanity as well as possibly the Columbus AIDS Task Force. The volunteering aspect is still sort of floating around in my head, so we’ll see where that lands.

Goal: Write every day.Status: Starting soon, I’m going to attempt the idea of waking up early to write a little before the day starts.

Goal: Read at least one book a month.Status: A little updated from my general “read more” goal that I’ve had going on. I have been slogging along with books lately, so if I at least say one a month, I have something to gauge my progress by. That’s not limiting to one. That’s just at least one. Currently I’m still reading two books at once. Follow progress here: the K experiment @ Goodreads.

Goal: Save money/budget reboot!Status: The ongoing budget/money struggle. Ugh. I am actually pretty pumped about it right now. I started fresh today with a brand new YNAB budget. I have spent far too much time watching videos on how best to use YNAB for budgeting goals. A lot of the videos there could be used by anyone for whatever budgeting method you use. Now that I’ve set some things up better, I think I’m going to get a good handle on it. I still have my emergency fund and car savings going. I realized recently that I used to live on a lot less money. I’d like to be able to live on a lot less and save/give/do a lot more. So that’s really the goal: live better on less. I’d like to start into 401ks and such this year. 30 seems a little late to that game, but better late than never! That will take a lot more research though.

Goal: Try something new once a month.Status: This month, I’m trying yoga. My gym offers free classes and I signed up for this Thursday. Next month, I think I’m going to try my hand at smoothie making. Please give me your recipes.

Goal: Keep a fucking good attitude.Status: I have a struggle with this. I’m trying to get better. I’m trying to turn bad things around to good things and face challenges with better attitudes. I think all the above goals will really help this one.

So. Lots of goals. Lots of plans. We’ll see how this goes. I’m hoping that all the physical and other struggles of 2011 are behind me and I can get everything going in the right direction. 2012 is going to be a good one. Even if the world ends. 😉